This Tuesday, Sporting CP took a significant step towards securing its unprecedented fourth title. The Lions triumphed over SC Braga with a 0-2 victory, earning the right to potentially clinch the Liga Placard final this Saturday at Pavilhão João Rocha.
Following the match, Sporting coach Nuno Dias analyzed the game in a press conference. He expressed great satisfaction with his team’s performance and also commended their opponents. For Sporting to secure the title, three wins are required, and they have only achieved two so far.
Nuno Dias in Direct Speech
Game Analysis: “A futsal game has four phases: defending, attacking, and transitions. In our defensive organization, we were impeccable, strong in individual duels, and effective in preventing SC Braga’s key player, Dudu, from creating problems for us. In defensive transitions, we were also solid, managing to quickly recover and defend when outnumbered. We performed excellently overall, not just defensively. Offensively, we created numerous opportunities, and the halftime score of 0-1 didn’t fully reflect our dominance. We could have done better and secured a larger lead.”
“In the second half, SC Braga naturally reacted and forced us to play deeper. Despite some pressure, they didn’t create many dangerous opportunities, except during the 4v3 situation when Pany was sent off. We were also impeccable in defending the 5×4+GR. Fábio had one good chance, but overall, our victory was well-deserved. It’s noteworthy that this might be the first time SC Braga didn’t score at this stadium. After last week’s 12-goal match, winning 0-2 with a clean sheet is remarkable, and both our players and SC Braga deserve praise for their efforts.”
What Sporting CP Missed in SC Braga’s Best Moment: “The quality of SC Braga. Their improvement wasn’t due to our shortcomings but their merit. They increased their aggression and dynamics, involving Dudu more, which challenged us. This was a testament to SC Braga’s quality, not our demerit.”
The Importance of João Matos in Numerical Inferiority: “He is crucial during specific phases of the game. His commitment, work ethic, and leadership on the field are invaluable.”
Psychological Effect of Victory on Both Teams: “I hope it has a very positive effect on us and a negative one on SC Braga. However, both teams are experienced and skilled, which is why they are at this stage of the season. I don’t expect any underestimation of their abilities. Winning in Braga gives us three match points, two of which are at home.”
The Squad’s Experience Contributing to the Victory: “I don’t fully agree with attributing the victory to experience. Our team includes young players like Zicky (22), Tomás (23 or 24), and Diogo (21). SC Braga’s team is also experienced, with players like Tiago Brito, Fábio Cecílio, Italo Rossetti, and Tiago Sousa, who have numerous titles and have played for big clubs. Our success is more about the quality, unity, and dedication we showed, especially when leading the game. Last week we came from behind multiple times. Today, fortunately, we maintained the lead and could have had a bigger advantage by halftime.”